Monday, March 31, 2008

China launches Olympic torch relay



   


China celebrated the start of the Olympic torch relay on Monday, but heavy security highlighted concerns that protests over Tibet, human rights and other issues may tarnish its historic journey.

President Hu Jintao officially launched the flame on its globe-trotting journey at a nationally televised ceremony from Tiananmen Square, Beijing's political heart, after it arrived from Greece.

The 130-day relay, hailed as the most ambitious ever, will cross 19 countries before returning to China for a three-month tour that includes an ascent of Mount Everest.

Hu held aloft the torch before passing it to Liu Xiang, a Chinese sporting icon who is the reigning 110m hurdles Olympic and world champion.

Read More...

source: http://sports.inquirer.net/






Friday, March 28, 2008

2007 Bar exam results on Saturday



   

Bar exam results out Saturday

The Supreme Court has decided to release the results of the 2007 Bar examination Saturday after lunch, according to a spokesman of the high tribunal.

The high court decided to double check the names of the examinees with their code numbers to avoid errors.

5, 626 law graduates base from the Office of the Bar Confidant records took the examination held for four consecutive Sundays last September 2007 at the De La Salle University in Taft Avenue, Manila.

source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net





Thursday, March 27, 2008

Miss Island Philippines Pageant



   

The search is on for the first Miss Island Philippines. Organized by Miss Philippines Pageantry Productions, Inc., this is not just another beauty pageant that ends with a trophy and some cash.

The winners will have the chance to travel and represent the country in two international competitions- Miss Tourism Pageant in Malaysia and Miss Bikini of the World in Caracas, Venezuela this July.

Watch the 24 contestants including the 2 beautiful ladies from Kapamilya Deal or No Deal of ABS-CBN in their donning bikinis at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ArZ5ZzaVag.






Wednesday, March 26, 2008

The Olympic Flag



   



On the Olympic flag, the rings appear on a white background.

The flag reinforces the idea of the Olympic Movement's universality, as it brings together all the countries of the world.

Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic Games, explains the meaning of the flag:

"The Olympic flag has a white background, with five interlaced rings in the centre: blue, yellow, black, green and red. This design is symbolic; it represents the five continents of the world, united by Olympism, while the six colours are those that appear on all the national flags of the world at the present time." (1931)

Textes choisis II, p.470.

Combined in this way, the six colours of the flag (including the white of the background) represent all nations.

It is wrong, therefore, to believe that each of the colours corresponds to a certain continent !

At the Olympic Games, the flag is brought into the stadium during the opening ceremony. Since the 1960 Games in Rome (Italy), it has been carried horizontally by a delegation of athletes or other people well known for their positive work in society.

After its arrival, the flag is hoisted up the flagpole. It must fly in the stadium during the whole of the Games. When the flag is lowered at the closing ceremony, it signals the end of the Games.

The mayor of the host city of the Games passes the Olympic flag to the mayor of the next host city of the Games.

History Even though Pierre de Coubertin intended the Olympic Games to be an international event from the time of their re-establishment in 1896 in Athens (Greece), it was only at the 1912 Games in Stockholm (Sweden) that, for the first time, the participants came from all five continents. One year later, in 1913, the five rings appeared at the top of a letter written by Pierre de Coubertin. He drew the rings and coloured them in by hand. He then described this symbol in the Olympic Review of August 1913.

It was also Coubertin who had the idea for the Olympic flag. He presented the rings and flag in June 1914 in Paris at the Olympic Congress.

The First World War prevented the Games from being celebrated in 1916 in Berlin (Germany) as planned. It was not until 1920 in Antwerp (Belgium) that the flag and its five rings could be seen flying in an Olympic stadium.

The universality conveyed by the rings and the flag was a new idea at the beginning of the 20th century. Nationalism was very strong and tension between certain countries was high. It was in this climate, however, that Coubertin proposed a symbol which aimed to encourage world unity.

source: Beijing 2008





Tuesday, March 25, 2008

What is Olympic?



   


Olympic Games

The Olympic Games (often referred to simply as The Olympics or The Games) is an international multi-sport event subdivided into summer and winter sporting events. The summer and winter games are each held every four years (an Olympiad). Until 1992, they were both held in the same year. Since then, they have been separated two years apart.

The original Olympic Games (Greek: Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες; Olympiakoi Agones) began in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece, and was celebrated until AD 393. Interest in reviving the Olympic Games proper was first shown by the Greek poet and newspaper editor Panagiotis Soutos in his poem "Dialogue of the Dead" in 1833. Evagelos Zappas sponsored the first modern international Olympic Games in 1859. He paid for the refurbishment of the Panathinaiko Stadium for Games held there in 1870 and 1875. This was noted in newspapers and publications around the world including the London Review, which stated that "the Olympian Games, discontinued for centuries, have recently been revived! Here is strange news indeed ... the classical games of antiquity were revived near Athens".

The International Olympic Committee was founded in 1894 on the initiative of a French nobleman, Pierre Frédy, Baron de Coubertin. The first of the IOC's Olympic Games were the 1896 Summer Olympics, held in Athens, Greece. Participation in the Olympic Games has increased to include athletes from nearly all nations worldwide. With the improvement of satellite communications and global telecasts of the events, the Olympics are consistently gaining supporters. The most recent Summer Olympics were the 2004 Games in Athens and the most recent Winter Olympics were the 2006 Games in Turin. The upcoming games in Beijing are planned to comprise 302 events in 28 sports. As of 2006, the Winter Olympics were competed in 84 events in 7 sports.

source: wikipedia






RP to host 2014 Asian Beach Games



   


MANILA, Philippines—For more than half a century, the Philippines has not hosted a multisport event as significant as the Asian Games.

The Olympic Council of Asia broke this spell recently after it awarded to the country the hosting of the 2014 Asian Beach Games.

Philippine Olympic Committee secretary general Steve Hontiveros Monday said OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah would fly to Manila on April 1 to make the announcement.

POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., adviser to the OCA president, invited Al-Sabah to the Philippines to inspect the possible venues of the Asian Beach Games in Cebu, Boracay and Davao.

Cojuangco, who paid Al-Sabah a visit at the OCA headquarters in Kuwait last January along with Hontiveros and POC deputy secretary general Mark Joseph, will also accompany the sheikh to the proposed site of the country’s athletes’ village in Clark Field, Pampanga.

Hontiveros said Al-Sabah would meet with the POC executive board on April 1 to officially award the hosting of the 2014 Asian Beach Games.

Ramon “Tats” Suzara, the Qatar-based former consultant of the Philippine Sports Commission, would be in-charge of the organizing committee for the games, which will see the participation of OCA’s 45 member-countries.

The first Asian Beach Games will be held this year in Bali, Indonesia, on Oct. 18-26.

Sports included in the games include beach volleyball, beach handball, beach sepak takraw, marathon, swimming and beach soccer.


source: http://sports.inquirer.net





UNESCO cites RP for use of ICT in education



   

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines through the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) has won a commendation from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for a project to digitize non-formal education in the country.

The UNESCO commendation is one of several awards given to initiatives and projects that make use of information and communications technology in education.

The CICT was among those recognized under the non-formal educator category.

In an interview, CICT commissioner Tim Diaz de Rivera said the project, eSkwela, a play on the Filipino term for school, is a joint project of the agency and the Bureau of Alternative Learning Systems (BALS) of the Department of Education.

The Bureau of Alternative Learning Systems offers a home-study program for out-of-school youths wanting to finish high school. Among the popular beneficiaries of this program is Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, according to Diaz de Rivera.

"But he was not yet part of what we're doing," Diaz de Rivera said, as he explained that the CICT and the BALS started working on the eSkwela project last year.

The esKwela project is currently digitizing the different modules offered by the program. The digitized content is now being loaded onto computer servers that are being deployed nationwide through another program of the CICT, Diaz de Rivera said.

"We're also turning the content into interactive modules," added Diaz de Rivera, who pointed out that this initiative is different from the CyberEd project of the Department of Education.

The eSkwela project is currently being pilot tested in four sites: in San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan; a telecommunications office in Roces, Quezon City; in Mandaue, Cebu; and in Cagayan de Oro city.

source: http://technology.inquirer.net/





Monday, March 24, 2008

World War II memorial unveiled in Iloilo



   

ILOILO CITY, Philippines -- They were 1,421 faceless names like Second Lieutenant Jose Alba, Corporal Gabriel Falcis and Major Alberto Policarpio. But their names will forever be etched in honor on the Wall of Memory for those who died fighting for freedom during World War II.

The Wall of Memory was formally unveiled at the Balantang Memorial Cemetery and National Shrine in Jaro district here last Monday during rites commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the liberation of the islands of Panay, Guimaras and Romblon.

The ceremonies were attended by defense department and military officials as well as war veteran associations and relatives of those who died fighting in the war.

The names of the Filipino guerrillas under the 6th Military District (6MD) who died fighting Japanese troops are etched in two walls made of granite.

The walls were erected behind the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and in front of the tombs of former senator and Ilonggo guerrilla leader Gen. Macario Peralta Jr. and his wife Natividad.

Peralta led the Free Panay Guerrilla Forces, which later became the 6MD. From his base in the mountains of Panay, he directed the resistance movement on the island and in Romblon and Guimaras.

Natividad helped the resistance movement by organizing the Women's Auxiliary Service, the precursor of the Women's Auxiliary Corps. She rallied women to give material and moral support to the guerillas.The construction of the walls, each measuring 8x20 feet and costing around P350,000, was funded by the Department of National Defense and with contributions and donations.

The list does not include casualties during the first bombing by Japanese planes of Iloilo City on December 18, 1941 where many reservists were killed at Camp Delgado

source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/





'Crash victims' kin to get $165 million



   


Biggest settlement in RP aviation history


DALLAS, TEXAS—Insurance companies have agreed to pay $165 million to settle lawsuits brought by relatives of those killed in the crash of an Air Philippines Boeing 737 on Samal Island in 2000, said to be the biggest settlement in Philippine aviation history.


The families of about 100 of the 131 people killed in the crash sued the United States companies that owned the plane and leased it to Air Philippines, accusing them of providing a worn-out plane in need of constant maintenance that the airline was incapable or unwilling to do.

After legal fees of about one-third of the award, the families will get on average more than $1 million each, according to Donald J. Nolan, whose Chicago law firm took the lead in the case.

The judge must still approve disbursements from a trust fund to individual families, which will receive varying awards.

The lawyer said Air Philippines, owned by beer and tobacco magnate Lucio Tan, offered the families about $20,000 each.

While on a commuter flight from Manila to Davao on April 19, 2000, Air Philippines Flight 541 crashed into the side of a hill on Samal Island at about 7 a.m., just a few kilometers from the Davao International Airport, as the pilot made a second attempt to land on the runway. All 124 passengers and seven crew members were killed.

Witnesses saw the Boeing 737-200 to have been on fire before it crashed into the coconut plantation on Barangay San Isidro in Babak town.

It was said to be the country’s worst air tragedy.

An earlier report said pilot error caused the crash, but this was rejected by relatives of the fatalities who filed the case against the US companies in a state court in Chicago. It was scheduled for trial in September but was settled in late February by Air Philippines’ insurers, who negotiated on behalf of the plane’s suppliers. Neither the US companies, Air Philippines nor the insurers admitted responsibility.

Nolan said the amount of the settlement will improve safety in developing countries, where carriers often buy aging aircraft no longer wanted by US airlines.

The Air Philippines Boeing 737 that crashed was made in 1978 and operated for 20 years by Southwest Airlines Co., which was recently slapped with a $10.2-million fine by US regulators for flying 737s without making required inspections for cracks in the fuselages.

Read more...

source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/





Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Pacquiao said "The business is over."



   

Victory for Pacman

Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao knocked down Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez in the third round and won a split decision to claim Marquez’s WBC World super featherweight Champion 130-pound title at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. After Pacman defeated Dinamita, the new WBC World super featherweight Champion Manny Pacquiao said "The business is over."

It could have gone either way. But in the end, the knockdown in the third round spelled the difference for Manny Pacquiao in his rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez for the Mexican’s World Boxing Council super featherweight crown.

The three judges—Tom Miller, Duane Ford and Jerry Roth—had identical scores up to the fifth round, with Pacquiao ahead, 48-46, as a result of the knockdown.

They finally differed in Round 6, with Roth, the substitute referee whose inclusion was questioned by Marquez’s camp, giving it to Marquez. Miller and Ford sided with Pacquiao.

Again, the judges had similar scores, all for Marquez in Rounds 7 and 8, allowing the Mexican to close in, 75-76.

Miller and Ford saw Pacquiao as the Round 9 winner, with Roth choosing Marquez.

All three judges gave the 10th to Pacquiao and the 11th to Marquez.

Miller and Roth also awarded the 12th round to Marquez, rendering inconsequential Ford’s score for Pacquiao.

Roth wound up with a 115-112 score for Marquez, the same score given by Ford to Pacquiao. Miller clinched it for the Filipino ring superstar by a point, 114-113.

Based on the final punch statistics, however, Marquez had the edge.

Though Pacquiao threw more punches, 619-511, Marquez landed more 172-157.

Pacquiao also unleashed more jabs, 314-201, connecting 43 times as against Marquez’s 42.

On power punches thrown, Marquez had a slight edge, 310-305, and also scored more, 130-114.

source: http://sports.inquirer.net/inquirersports
images: http://pa.photoshelter.com & http://philboxing.com/





'Inang Yaya' takes the bronze in Cairo



   


MANILA, Philippines - Unitel Pictures’ “Inang Yaya” won the bronze prize at the 18th Cairo International Film Festival for Children on March 13.

The movie, directed by Pablo Biglang-awa and Veronica Velasco, competed with eight feature films from Sweden, the Netherlands, India, Finland, Japan, Greece, Croatia and Austria.

Finland’s “Mystery of the Wolf,” directed by Raimo O Niemi, won the gold prize; the silver went to Japan’s “Boy Meets Ghosts,” directed by Nobuo Mizuta.

The International Jury Prize went to India’s “Care of Footpath,” directed by 12-year-old director/actor/editor Kishan Shrikanth Shylaja.

The Maricel Soriano starrer is about a nanny who struggles to give equal love and care to her ward and her own child.

A children’s book writer from Egypt said parents can learn a lot from the movie, said Biglang-awa. He noted that the entire Philippine embassy, led by Ambassador Oscar Valenzuela, came in full force.

Read more...

source: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/





Thursday, March 13, 2008

PMA female cadets in longer hair



   

PMA female cadets now allowed to sport longer hair

FORT DEL PILAR, BAGUIO City—Only one female cadet will join this year’s top graduates of the Philippine Military Academy next week.

But when Cadet First Class Me-Ann Sinson of PMA “Baghawi” (Bagong Halaw ng Lahi or new breed of leaders) Class of 2008 receives the honor of graduating No. 3, she will be wearing her hair far longer than the female cadets who first graduated in 1997.

Chalk that up to the newly liberated world of a unisex military.

According to Maj. Gen. Leopoldo Maligalig, PMA superintendent, female cadets are now allowed to wear their hair long because people used to mistake them for men.

In 1993, Capt. Arlene Orejana-Trillanes, one of the first female graduates, was required to keep her hair from reaching her shoulders. But female cadets today can have hair long enough for a ponytail, provided they groom themselves well, Maligalig said.

Sinson, 22, of Bagumbayan in Ligao City, Albay, is graduating No. 3, cum laude. She will receive the Secretary of National Defense saber.

Read more...

source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/






Tuesday, March 11, 2008

The New 7 Wonders of the World Philippines Entry



   


Philippines Entry to The New 7 Wonders of the of Nature


The Philippines have 3 entries for The New 7 Wonders of the of Nature. The nominees are are the Tubbataha Reef, coral reef in the Sulu Sea. Then the Chocolate Hills of Bohol and lastly the Mt. Mayon Volcano in the Legaspi, Albay. The Tubbataha Reef and the Chocolate Hills already belong in the top 77.

Chocolate Hills

The Chocolate Hills is an unusual geological formation in Bohol, Philippines. It is composed of around 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills, all about the same size, spread over an area of more than 50 sq km The hills are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season, giving them the name "Chocolate Hills."



Tubbataha Reef, Reef

Tubbataha Reef is an atoll coral reef in the Sulu Sea that belongs to the Philippines. It is a marine sanctuary protected as Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. The reef is composed of two atolls, North and South Reefs. Each reef has a single small islet that protrudes from the water. The atolls are separated by a deep channel 8 kilometers wide. Over one thousand species, including many that are endangered, can be found at on the reef. These include manta rays, lionfish, tortoises, clownfish and sharks.

The New7Wonders Foundation, which is behind the New7Wonders campaigns, has the express aim of undertaking documentation and conservation works of monuments worldwide under the motto: "OUR HERITAGE IS OUR FUTURE". Were announced during the Official Declaration ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday, July 7, 2007 and history was made! This inaugural worldwide vote also produced the first-ever Global Memory and a new set of 7 Human Virtues. Bernard Weber, a Swiss-born Canadian and founder of New7Wonders, has had a varied career as a filmmaker, museum curator, aviator, and explorer.

New 7 Wonders calls on all citizens of the world to support it. Through film, television, the Internet and books, people shall be sensitized to the beauty of the world’s heritage, both man-made and natural, and be alerted of its destruction and decay.

The nominations can be submitted for New 7 Wonders of Nature campaign until December 31, 2008. So what are you waiting for please vote to our nominees to belong in the New 7 Wonders of Nature this is our chance now!.

Vote now for the New Seven Wonders of Nature 360x

To vote just visit http://www.new7wonders.com/ then register or you may see the live ranking here.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!





Monday, March 10, 2008

Binibining Pilipinas 2008 Winners



   

The newest batch of Beauty Queens were proclaimed last Saturday, March 8, 2008 at the Bb. Pilipinas 2008 coronation night pageant held at the Araneta Coliseum.

Jennifer Barrientos
Bb. Pilipinas 2008 - Universe
Patricia Fernandez
Bb. Pilipinas 2008 - International
Janina San Miguel
Bb. Pilipinas 2008 - World


Danielle Castano
Bb. Pilipinas 2008 - 1st Runner-up
Elizabeth Jacqueline Nacuspag
Bb. Pilipinas 2008 - 2nd Runner-up


The three reign queens during the coronation night.


13 Finalists

Patricia Fernandez - Candidate No. 2
Toni Alyessa Hipolito - Candidate No. 3
Jennifer Barrientos - Candidate No. 7
Danielle Castano - Candidate No. 8
Kathleen Phyllis Guerrero - Candidate No. 9
Jaysel Arrozal - Candidate No. 12
Tabetha Jo Frick - Candidate No. 13
Karen Golar - Candidate No. 14
Janina San Miguel - Candidate No. 15
Elizabeth Jacqueline Nacuspag - Candidate No. 18


Best in Long Gown

Janina San Miguel - Candidate No. 15


Best in Swimwear
Janina San Miguel - Candidate No. 15

Miss Photogenic

Danielle Castano - Candidate No. 8

Miss Friendship
Evangeline Mae Castillo - Candidate No. 6

Best in Talent
Rizza Liz Catigan - Candidate No. 24

Miss Natasha
Patricia Fernandez - Candidate No. 2

Miss Natasha Poise and Grace
Danielle Castano - Candidate No. 8

Miss Bacchus
Danielle Castano - Candidate No. 8

Miss Ever Bilena
Danielle Castano - Candidate No. 8

Miss PAL
Danielle Castano - Candidate No. 8

Manila Bulletin - Reader's Choice Award
Roxanne Tadique - Candidate No. 20

source: http://www.bbpilipinas.com







Friday, March 07, 2008

Negros "piaya"



   


Heavenly fill of Negros "piaya"

Negros’ muscovado sugar, which is gaining popularity in the growing health-conscious global market, is synonymous with those mouth-watering pastries only its people can make best.

The dark brown, slightly coarse, unrefined sugar, which still contains the minerals and vitamins originally found in sugarcane, has a pleasant bitter-sour taste from molasses not found in regular sugar, says pastry reinventor Millie Kilayko.

It is also this sugar that makes Negrense pastries delightfully different, bringing back memories of the old days of leisure and long lunches.

Carrying on the tradition of making muscovado-laced pastries are second cousins Maritess Sanchez of Silay City’s famous El Ideal and Kilayko of Casa Carmela in Bacolod City. Both come from old Silay families who have a reputation that revolves around delicious meals capped by desserts.

Sanchez and Kilayko also live in the homes they have known since birth, and their factories are just a flight of stairs down their living quarters.

Sanchez has chosen to remain close to her workplace to continue the family business that was passed on to her—along with all its original recipes. Kilayko finds her proximity to her factory the best assurance to meet the best manufacturing practices, especially sanitation.

Sanchez’s and Kilayko’s links with the past are perhaps the reason they have a devotion to “perpetuate” the recipes of old.

Many of El Ideal’s sweets are made with muscovado sugar that the growing health conscious population sees as a healthier option, said Sanchez.

Among the products are its golden brown angel cookies made from cuttings of hosts served during communion, high-fiber “muscobite” cookies made with wheat flour, guava-apple pies, butong-butong (chewy sugar nougats) candies, and “musco bars” similar to butterscotch.

And, of course, the star of the delicacies is the “piaya” still made the way Sanchez’s grandfather made it three generations ago.

Last year, Kilayko introduced her version of the “piaya”—crisp, light and thin, unlike the original piaya that has a thicker layer of muscovado sandwiched in it. While the new product gives one’s palate only a delicate flavor of muscovado sugar between fine layers, it still carries the personality of the one prepared by generations of cooks before her.

Inspired by the success of her reinvention, Kilayko introduced bite-size “piaya,” which she calls “piayito,” and healthy versions using whole wheat.

Casa Carmela’s crisp and thin “piaya” also come with different personalities: tropical (mango, banana and ube), gourmet (after-dinner dark chocolate with mint, cinnamon and espresso), cocktail (low salt, pesto and country herb) and low sugar (a blend of muscovado sugar and Splenda).

Kilayko and Sanchez are among the 73 Negrense producers who are bringing their products to the Association of Negros Producers’ (ANP) 22nd Negros Trade Fair at Rockwell in Makati City on Oct. 3-8 last year. The group banners “Innovation and Reinvention” as this year’s theme.

This time, Kilayko said she would be combining the two most popular delicacies—“piaya” and “barquillos”—all in a bite.

Keeping its crisp and thin features, and retaining the fine layer of muscovado filling of her piaya, it is rolled into the shape of the barquillos. This new product Kilayko calls paiquillos is a perfect match to a scoop of ice cream or a cup of coffee.

Kilayko also makes crispy piaya ice cream cones and accepts orders for crispy piaya fortune cookies.

source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/





Thursday, March 06, 2008

Top Ten songs for astronauts



   

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are to get an unusual treat -- an MP3 player loaded with a playlist of songs specially chosen for people in orbit.

The Top Ten was selected by a 14-year-old Norwegian girl, Therese Miljeteig, who won a competition staged by the European Space Agency (ESA).

Her prize is to watch the launch this weekend of ESA's space freighter, the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), at the Kourou space base, French Guiana.

After launch, the cargo ship will dock automatically in low Earth orbit with the ISS, bringing food, water and other essentials to the ISS crew, as well as clothing and other personal items.

This was the winning selection, which beat out 1,000 rivals from 10 countries:

• Here Comes The Sun - Beatles
• Come Fly With Me - Frank Sinatra
• Rocket Man - Elton John
• Up Where We Belong - Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
• Imagine - John Lennon
• Flashdance - What A Feeling - Irene Cara
• Walk of Life - Dire Straits
• Fly - Celine Dion
• Rockin' All Over The World - Status Quo
• I Believe I Can Fly - R Kelly

source: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/





Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Pacquiao vs Marquez 2



   


Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez vs Manny "PacMan" Pacquiao II:
Unfinished Business

The much awaited event this year and the fistic debate as to who will finally be settled this coming Saturday, March 15 2008 when World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight champion JUAN MANUEL "Dinamita" MARQUEZ defends his title against three-division world champion MANNY "Pacman" PACQUIAO.

March 15, 2008
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada

In a fight fittingly titled Marquez - Pacquiao II Unfinished Business is the rematch of their May 8, 2004 legendary battle which ended in a draw.

Pacquiao, was a 150-pounder when he arrived in Los Angeles on Jan. 15, he tipped the scales at 133 pounds, just three lbs over the required weight in his rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez.

Over in Mexico City, Marquez tipped the scales two pounds lighter at 131 in another official weigh-in supervised by WBC representative Joventino Martinez. There was no surprise that they're ready to rumble.


Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank, in association with Romanza Boxing Productions and MP Promotions and sponsored by Tecate Beer, Rock Star Energy Drink and Southwest Airlines, Marquez - Pacquiao II Unfinished Business will be for the WBC and vacant Ring Magazine Super Featherweight World Championship. The world title bout will take place at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.


The fight will be will be broadcast on HBO pay per view and will watch over TV networks March 16, 2008 9:00AM-12:00 Noon Philippine/Manila Time.






Educators win awards for innovative teachers



   


Educators
from Iligan and Makati win awards for innovative teachers.



Two teachers from Iligan City, and one from Makati City won Microsoft Philippines' Innovative Teachers Leadership Awards. Fedelyn Gomez, Noemi Bagayaua, and Julius Hechanova went home with cash, a brand new laptop, and bragging rights.

Three teacher top in this year’s Innovative Teachers Leadership Awards (ITLA). Were most of the finalists focused on science, math, and language subjects.

Fedelyn Gomez, a high school teacher at the Tomas Cabili National High School in Iligan City received a coveted award for most innovative teachers in the country.

Gomez was a teacher for 12 years currently teaching Makabayan (Civics), she was ecstatic when Microsoft Philippines officials called out her name from among the 10 finalists. Her winning lesson plan taught students important concepts in entrepreneurship. "The Wonders of One's Finger Tips" lesson plan required students to design a business plan for an animal production project. Their work was then published on the Web.

Julius Hechanova, also a fellow teacher from Iligan City a second winner. Developed a literature-based interactive lesson to enhance the reading comprehension of Grade 6 pupils.

The third winner is Ma. Noemi Bagayaua, a five-year elementary teacher from Cembo Elementary School in Makati City who specializes in English.

All three teachers said they did not expect to win. But they also admit that their victory was indication that they were on to something that was good and right.

Despite the lack of computers in the schools where the winning teachers are teaching, they still believe technology has provided them more tools to make lessons interesting.

source: http://technology.inquirer.net





Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Competitor of Boracay



   


'Guimaras best competitor of Boracay'


This island province in Western Visayas has been considered to have the same potentials of world famous island resort of Boracay in Aklan.


This was the assessment of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG-6) regional director Evelyn Trompeta.

Trompeta told an executive briefing with assistant secretary Raul Banias, the presidential assistant for Panay and Guimaras and some 40 regional directors last November 2007 that Western Visayas has been positioned as tourism haven in the country.

“Guimaras is the best competitor of Boracay. While Iloilo is an economic hub, the proximity of Guimaras has very best potentials for tourism,” said Trompeta.

What makes Guimaras the next tourism destination?

Trompeta explained there are three things to consider: peace and order situation, local governance and agri-tourism master plan.

“Guimaras’ peace and order program has been awarded among the best implemented. The province has also a politically healthy environment—there is a positively healthy relation between the executive and legislative—the opposition is very negligible, there’s no political bickering. And the agri-tourism master plan is in place,” she pointed out.

Trompeta added the island’s tourism plan has been drafted with the support of Department of Tourism (DOT) and Canadian Urban Institute.

“Guimaras is the only province in the region that has come up with its provincial economic and development office which focuses more on tourism development. Heritage tourism is also one of the best potentials,” she said.

The DILG chief said they will conduct an alliance building to create a team for Guimaras not only in terms of politics but for five municipalities to complement for the development.

Meanwhile, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-6) regional director Lormelyn Claudio said they will establish at least five eco-tourism sites in the island.

Claudio added they have coordinated with Western Visayas Caving Association and National Museum to assess the potentials of caves and lay down the resources management.

The Guimaras tourism industry has been assessed to be more than just its beaches struck by the August 11, 2006 oil spill. Earlier, DOT-6 regional director Edwin Trompeta said there’s more Guimaras can offer to tourists coming over.

“Guimaras is not only dependent on beaches. It also has its own eco-and-agri-tourism sites, adventure parks, caving tours, mangoes and more scenic attractions,” he said.

source: http://thedailyguardian.com/





Monday, March 03, 2008

Pinoy Products in Dubai



   

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap points to the sign indicating the Philippine supermarket in Satwa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Yap was in the Middle East country on an agricultural trade mission on February 28. It's only show a world class Pinoy that can compete globally

source: http://www.inquirer.net/